I'm looking for a pair of floor standing speakers for music playback. My budget is probably in the $700-1000 range. I'm on the verge of accepting a new job offer, and I want to get myself a gift of sorts. I've done a lot of research, and I've honed in PSB speakers.

I've heard great things about the T5 and T6, and when I started calling around, I found out that they're being discontinued. So with some discounts, they actually fall nicely within my range. And I'm trying to figure out if I'd be happy with the T5, or if I really should spend a couple hundred extra to go up to the T6.

I won't be using them with a sub, and right now they'd be in a smaller apartment living room, although I'm moving in a few months to a slightly bigger place. Are the T6s much louder? I'm afraid they might be overkill.

Not too long ago, the idea of spending close to $1000 on speakers would have been crazy to me. So I'm not eager to spend the extra money if I don't have to. But I plan on keeping these speakers for a while, so 5 (10?) years down the line, I don't want to regret being cheap.

I know that when it comes to audio gear, lots of people advise spending as close to the top of your budget as possible. But if anyone could give me some honest opinions I'd really appreciate it!

I'm in search of a center speaker and not sure if I should purchase the PSB Mini C ($507) that would match the two mini's I currently have for the front (rear speakers are in wall PSB CW26) or Imagine XC ($399). I have not auditioned these center speakers and was hoping for some suggestions.

Food for thought:
With Dolby Atmos coming out on mainstream AVRs (Pioneer, Onkyo, and Denon/Marantz) along with the high-end Trinnov Altitude this fall and winter, has anybody thought about how we could get PSB speakers to best integrate with Atmos?

To have a proper Atmos configuration (5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.2, 7.1.4 etc., where the last digit is the number of heights), you'd need a minimum of two middle of the room "in-ceiling" speakers, and either four front and rear in-ceiling height speakers, or four L/R front and rear "Atmos-capable" speaker modules firing upward towards the ceiling to generate the proper reflections for the Atmos mix. Height capabilities are critical to get the "immersive" feel that Atmos is aiming for.

We haven't heard anything from PSB AFAIK. And while some have suggested that "strap-on" speakers can be put on top of existing L/R fronts and surrounds, that would look very...ugly...on an Imagine or Image tower. And not all of us have the ability to add built-in speakers to our ceilings. Any thoughts about what may be in the pipeline?

There is no reason why you couldn't just point a pair or two of bookshelf speaker at the ceiling for Atmos. I think the dolby spec calls for a pretty directional driver so that you hear the reflected sound instead of the direct sound, but you could probably make it work. It wouldn't look as good as purpose made ceiling firing drivers like the Pioneers.

You could probably have good results by mounting some surround speakers to the ceiling as well.

I'm interested to see what format the movie studios start shipping in. It seems like most bluerays right now ship in 7.1 format. Does that mean that most Atmos sound tracks will be 7.1.2 or maybe 7.1.4? I'd probably want to wait and see the most popular blueray format before deciding on how to place my speakers.

There is no reason why you couldn't just point a pair or two of bookshelf speaker at the ceiling for Atmos. I think the dolby spec calls for a pretty directional driver so that you hear the reflected sound instead of the direct sound, but you could probably make it work. It wouldn't look as good as purpose made ceiling firing drivers like the Pioneers.

You could probably have good results by mounting some surround speakers to the ceiling as well.

If you are interested in Atmos, why not do it right? In-ceiling speakers, as long as they are placed in the proper spots, would be fine. Pointing a pair of bookshelf speakers towards the ceiling, not such a good idea. The Atmos "strap-on" speakers have drivers with very strict dispersion patterns to enhance the effect, dispersion patterns not likely to be found on standard bookshelf speakers.

If you are interested in Atmos, why not do it right? In-ceiling speakers, as long as they are placed in the proper spots, would be fine. Pointing a pair of bookshelf speakers towards the ceiling, not such a good idea. The Atmos "strap-on" speakers have drivers with very strict dispersion patterns to enhance the effect, dispersion patterns not likely to be found on standard bookshelf speakers.

Whats up all, quick question if you don't mind,
The only t6s I've found are at my local audio (black) and they want $1040 +tax for floor models (the usual 20% off.)
Would I be crazy to even consider these since people were picking them up for $800 and under?
I do like supporting local business however, sometimes it comes down to the principal of spending $2-400 more dollars than the next person.
Would I be better off going to the x2t, t5?
Thanks for your replies, really appreciated.

Anyone taking advantage of the sale on PSB Image products at Crutchfield? Am I correct in assuming that they are rolling the old Image components into the new Imagine "casing" and dumping the Image line on sale? As I understand it, the woofe/tweeter aren't changing...

I'm considering upgrading to the Image B5 from my original Alpha B's from 2002 (not the revised B1 a few years later). I'm perfectly happy with my Alpha B's and they are still in excellent shape but I'm debating if spending the $249.00 for the B5's will be a worthwhile upgrade or not as the sale is tempting.

Whats up all, quick question if you don't mind,
The only t6s I've found are at my local audio (black) and they want $1040 +tax for floor models (the usual 20% off.)
Would I be crazy to even consider these since people were picking them up for $800 and under?
I do like supporting local business however, sometimes it comes down to the principal of spending $2-400 more dollars than the next person.
Would I be better off going to the x2t, t5?
Thanks for your replies, really appreciated.

I got the C5 for $199 and S5 for $399 at Crutchfield. I believe they were selling the T6 for $800 a pair but now out of stock. I got the demo version from an authorised dealer for $500 for the T6 pair

Maybe, or maybe not. However, it is an indication of the level of care that the speakers have received over their lifetime. It takes some rough handling to dent a dust cap (or a small child...) I would be wary of purchasing them.

Always use the 8Ω setting on the AVR. See this post for an explanation.

Please come back and let us know what you think when you're up and running.

Thank you GIEGAR! I'm loving my T6 and C5 combination after spending my whole week with it. I'm placing them on marble flooring. Do you think I should follow the manual and use the rubber footing instead of spikes? My previous floorstand I'm using spikes.

I just took the plunge and bought a pair of Imagine T speakers. They are a significant upgrade from the Wharfedale Diamond 10.5s I have and will be selling. I was driving the Wharfedales with a Yamaha A-S500. I'm thinking I need to eventually upgrade my integrated amp. NAD is a possibility, but I've read there may be some quality control issues with that brand. Cambridge is another possibility, but the ultimate determining factor will be my budget around $1000, less if possible.

BTW, I'm using these almost exclusively for music. I also have a sub that I can use with them if absolutely necessary. I play about 70% CDs and 30% vinyl.

I'd be interested in what others are using to drive their PSBs, especially the Imagine Ts.

I just took the plunge and bought a pair of Imagine T speakers. They are a significant upgrade from the Wharfedale Diamond 10.5s I have and will be selling. I was driving the Wharfedales with a Yamaha A-S500. I'm thinking I need to eventually upgrade my integrated amp. NAD is a possibility, but I've read there may be some quality control issues with that brand. Cambridge is another possibility, but the ultimate determining factor will be my budget around $1000, less if possible.

I'd be interested in what others are using to drive their PSBs, especially the Imagine Ts.

I don't own those speakers ... but if I were looking for an integrated to drive them I would look at emotiva as well.

Emotiva XDA-2 ($249) + Emotiva XPA-200 ($449)

or if you want to spend a little less replace the XPA-200 with the UPA-200 ($314) or more XPA-2 ($899).

As a side benefit you can keep the amps to later use in a Home Theater system if you wish. Or you could use your existing Yamaha as Pre for the emotiva amps.

I just took the plunge and bought a pair of Imagine T speakers. They are a significant upgrade from the Wharfedale Diamond 10.5s I have and will be selling. I was driving the Wharfedales with a Yamaha A-S500. I'm thinking I need to eventually upgrade my integrated amp. NAD is a possibility, but I've read there may be some quality control issues with that brand. Cambridge is another possibility, but the ultimate determining factor will be my budget around $1000, less if possible.

BTW, I'm using these almost exclusively for music. I also have a sub that I can use with them if absolutely necessary. I play about 70% CDs and 30% vinyl.

I'd be interested in what others are using to drive their PSBs, especially the Imagine Ts.

nice, I like PSB a lot as a brand

What you got back home, little sister, to play your fuzzy warbles on? I bet you got little save pitiful, portable picnic players. Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angel trumpets and devil trombones. You are invited.

I just took the plunge and bought a pair of Imagine T speakers. They are a significant upgrade from the Wharfedale Diamond 10.5s I have and will be selling. I was driving the Wharfedales with a Yamaha A-S500. I'm thinking I need to eventually upgrade my integrated amp. NAD is a possibility, but I've read there may be some quality control issues with that brand. Cambridge is another possibility, but the ultimate determining factor will be my budget around $1000, less if possible.

BTW, I'm using these almost exclusively for music. I also have a sub that I can use with them if absolutely necessary. I play about 70% CDs and 30% vinyl.

I'd be interested in what others are using to drive their PSBs, especially the Imagine Ts.

When I had my Imagine Bs set up in the living room (before kids), I used an NAD T747 AV receiver to drive them. This would be a perfect cheap solution. The video processing on the unit sucks but the audio
is exceptional so if you're only using it for music, it would be perfect.

My Imagine B speakers are currently being driven by an Integra DTR 6.4 (from 2004), in a 2 channel configuration (I moved the Integra to the living room in January 2012 when I inserted my Yamaha RX-A1000 AVR into the home cinema). For its intended use, my living room setup is fine. The PSB/Integra combination works well in Pure Audio mode (no processing) for music, while as a 2.0 movie-watching setup, it does an excellent job at recreating my circa 2001 setup of a 2.0 speaker/AVR combo (at the time, a Denon AVR-1600/Celestion DL6s), with DVD/BD/HD DVD/cable box playback via component analogue video into the Integra and out to the 32" Sony Trinitron SDTV (from 2001). My wife offers no resistance to my upgrades in the home cinema room, but won't consider changing the living room TV unless it stops working. I have no issues with that, as the TV has a nice little 16x9 "cheat" function for BD/HD DVD/anamorphic DVDs for casual viewing.

The beauty of the PSBs is they will outlive most of the other gear (eventually, the TV will change, the AVR will change, the cable box will change and so on, but the PSBs will continue to provide audio enjoyment for years to come--I typically keep speakers 15-20 years and see no reason to change that "policy").

I just took the plunge and bought a pair of Imagine T speakers. They are a significant upgrade from the Wharfedale Diamond 10.5s I have and will be selling. I was driving the Wharfedales with a Yamaha A-S500. I'm thinking I need to eventually upgrade my integrated amp. NAD is a possibility, but I've read there may be some quality control issues with that brand. Cambridge is another possibility, but the ultimate determining factor will be my budget around $1000, less if possible.

BTW, I'm using these almost exclusively for music. I also have a sub that I can use with them if absolutely necessary. I play about 70% CDs and 30% vinyl.

I'd be interested in what others are using to drive their PSBs, especially the Imagine Ts.

I have driven my PSB speakers with NAD / Denon / Anthem / HK / Adcom / Yamaha. My current NAD M15/M25 is fantastic. I also remember the NAD 218 being extremely good. No problems with NAD. I have had problems with Anthem processors but good fortune Anthem amps. I also run my Goldenears with NAD T163 / Anthem amp and it is a very good combo.

So they don't make the C5 and T6 any more? Crutchfield has the 1 step down but I'd want their biggest since I am already spoiled with big sound. The dark wood style would match my cabinet too. I was looking to step away from the brightness of the Klipsch and I loved the look of these. But it seems I can't get them any where.

Generally a big soundstage. Meaning the tower woofers have to be a decent size, and the tweeter has to be a good quality one. The more drivers on the tower the more pressurized the room so therefore more sound. I describe it as a "presence" to the soundtrack. IE the music soundtrack sounds fuller, richer, clearer.

In my experience, you can achieve the same sound with a set of quality bookshelf speakers and one or more good subs. PSB bookshelf speakers use the same tweeters and mid-range drivers as the tower speakers in the same line.

In my experience, you can achieve the same sound with a set of quality bookshelf speakers and one or more good subs. PSB bookshelf speakers use the same tweeters and mid-range drivers as the tower speakers in the same line.